In what several sources around the Big East described as a pivotal meeting, Big East presidents and athletic directors will meet tomorrow in Philadelphia to discuss probable expansion plans, The Post has learned.

The regularly-scheduled meeting of the presidents and athletic directors figures to be intense as the BCS-football playing members of the league intend on pressing their agenda to add teams to the eight-team football conference.

“The goal is to get the presidents’ blessing to seriously pursue teams,” said one Big East athletic director. “I don’t think we’re going to get pushback on that.”

Several sources confirmed a Post report last month that TCU is a strong candidate. Houston, Central Florida, Temple and/or Villanova, which is in the midst of evaluating a move up from FCS, are other lead candidates.

Two sources said if the presidents give their blessing to explore expansion, invitations could be issued before the end of the college football season. TCU is said to be very interested, as is Central Florida.

By adding TCU and Houston, the Big East would gain TV viewership in two significant markets (Dallas/Fort Worth and Houston) and give football programs a recruiting toehold in talent-rich Texas.

The expansion issue is ultra sensitive. The non-football playing members, who include most of the league’s charter members, do not wish to expand the conference from its already bloated 16-team makeup.

Big East spokesman John Paquette reiterated the league’s long-standing policy of not commenting on expansion. But sources at the league office confirmed there is concern the football members might be considering breaking away.